Omaha Airport Shut Down — over a science project…

From the Columbus, Indiana REPUBLIC:

OMAHA, Neb. — An Oregon college student’s science project forced the evacuation and shutdown of a terminal at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Wednesday.

The student had been participating in a science fair at Creighton University in Omaha, FBI spokeswoman Sandra Breault said.

“The device had a legitimate purpose and was harmless but had a suspicious appearance, which triggered an appropriate response by TSA and law enforcement,” Breault said.

Breault said the student is working on a doctorate, but did not release the student’s name or other details — such as the type of science project that prompted the scare.

The airport’s north terminal was evacuated and shut down for about two hours Wednesday after X-ray screening workers spotted the science project in a carry-on bag, the federal Transportation Security Agency said.

The terminal was reopened around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

“Out of an abundance of caution [italics from STOPLASP], screening operations were suspended and the terminal was evacuated,” a TSA written release said. “The Omaha Police Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit cleared the item with negative findings.”

Screening operations continued at the airport’s south terminal, but crowds of travelers could be seen gathering outside the airport’s north terminal more than an hour after officials called for the evacuation.

Officers and police dogs could be seen inside the terminal checking trash cans, under chairs and even cabinets in the terminal’s shops and concessions area while the area was shut down.

The airport’s website indicated some flights in and out of the airport were delayed as police and officials swept the terminal.

SO, with your tax dollars it took  over two hours and they still weren’t sure (because of an “abundance of caution”); but to make sure, they had the dogs sniff the trash cans and under the potted plants.

This isn’t an “abundance of caution”, this is lunancy.  Imagine when you try to fly your personal aircraft and has an item that requires “an abundance of caution” — you’re going to be face down on the tarmac, the whole airport is closed, police helicopters overhead… when does the common sense kick it.

That’s an easy answer:  it doesn’t.  That’s why LASP and the other insults to our Constitutional rights (like SD-8G, Operation Playbook, etc.) should be done away with, whether Senator Rockefeller likes it or not.